Hawthorne: Katie the Lady proves uncatchable in Illini Princess

Francisco Torres wins his third turf stakes of Hawthorne's current meet aboard Katie the Lady.

Katie the Lady beat favored La Tia at her own game Saturday to score a front-running victory in the $100,000 Illini Princess Handicap for Illinois-bred fillies and mares at Hawthorne.

It was the third turf stakes victory of the meet for jockey Francisco Torres, who has been aboard Katie the Lady for three wins since July 2012.

“This is the best she’s been and I’ve been riding her for some time,” Torres said.

The 7-year-old Katie the Lady ($15.80), returning to turf after finishing last as the 9-5 favorite over a sloppy track in the Indian Maid three weeks ago, outhustled La Tia, who does her best running up front, for the early lead. But Katie the Lady aced pressure from La Tia down the backside through fractions of 47.93 seconds and 1:11.11. Katie the Lady opened up by two lengths approaching the far turn and finished 1 1/4 lengths in front, completing 1 1/16 miles on firm turf in 1:42.56. Goldway rallied along the inside to get second with La Tia third as the 6-5 favorite.

Trained by Michele Boyce for Cherrywood Racing Stables II, Katie the Lady is now 9 for 19 with earnings of $330,475.